The defence team in the trial of suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused on Wednesday concluded its cross-examination of a South African digital forensic expert, the prosecution’s final witness, in Juba.
During the 68th session at Freedom Hall, defense lawyer, Deng John Deng, questioned forensic expert Ratlhogo Peter Calvin Rafadi on whether he had submitted individual findings on the seventh accused, Mading Yak Riek, to any independent military committee for verification, noting his status as a soldier.
Rafadi told the court he submitted his findings only to a government investigating committee, a response that prompted defence questions over the credibility and verifiability of the evidence.
Deng further asked whether Rafadi agreed that messages extracted from the phone of the sixth accused, Camilo Gatmai Kel, showed he had shared a document issued from the office of the First Vice President Riek Machar Teny.
“The answer is yes I agree,” Rafadi said.
The defence also questioned whether Gatmai, in his role as private secretary, was authorised to share documents as directed by senior officials of the SPLM-IO. Rafadi replied that he could not confirm or deny this, saying he was not aware of the office’s internal policies.
“I cannot agree nor disagree because I do not know the policies in that office,” he told the court.
Deng further asked whether Rafadi was aware that messages extracted from the phone of the eighth accused, Dominic Gatgok Riek, had been shared in a WhatsApp group in June 2025, despite his arrest in March 2025.
“I am fully aware and that is stated before the court that there were different dates or contradiction,” Rafadi said.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned the hearing until Friday, April 17, 2026.
Riek Machar Teny, 73, who is under house arrest, faces charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason and crimes against humanity. His co-accused remain detained by the National Security Service.
Prosecutors allege that SPLA-IO forces, allied with the White Army militia, killed 257 South Sudan People’s Defence Forces soldiers, including commander David Majur Dak, and destroyed or seized about $58 million worth of military equipment during an attack on the Nasir garrison in March 2025.
The seven co-defendants are Puot Kang Chuol, 40; Mam Pal Dhuor, 37; Gatwech Lam Puoch, 66; Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, 53; Camilo Gatmai Kel, 47; Mading Yak Riek, 45; and Dominic Gatgok Riek, 27.
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